CHICAGO — Jeff Samardzija’s return to Wrigley nearly went off the rails in the first inning. Somehow he managed to leave Thursday’s game with the lead, but the Giants couldn’t hold on.
Addison Russell hit a two-run single in the seventh that was the difference in the first of four games here. The Giants lost 5-4 to the best team in baseball on a night that started with plenty of promise for the offense.
Hunter Pence gave Samardzija a 2-0 lead with a monstrous blast to left in the first, but Samardzija gave it back during the longest inning of his career.